"How noble." I sigh, glancing back as I spot the lithe woman rounding the corner, a bag hung over her shoulder and container of what I assume is her breakfast in hand. Even still she's regal and poised, her head held high as she speaks quietly to the boy trailing alongside her. Tall and thin, it's no wonder Lavellan passes so easily as a guardian. From what little I've seen (her and the shop lady, they're the only ones I've seen) it's practically a requirement.

She stands just as tall as the young male beside her, and there's a familiarity between them that borders on comfortable and uncertain.

"I've got two years experience being a mute," I say quietly as I crawl into the van. "I think I'll be falling back on that."

"He's a kid." I frown roughly as I glance back at Lavellan, my bags tucked into the corner behind the driver seat where I begin to settle in. "Hell, she looks like she's fresh out of whatever warehouse they make you lot in." I grumble, my voice dropping as I head her voice carrying towards us.

*Novi*

"I can't thank you enough for this," I smile as I approach the van, keeping near Aodh at my side. "I actually realized I never properly introduced myself, my name is Zenovia Moss, this is Aodhagan."

I can see Aodhagen's eyes go wide for a moment as he glances between Ljuba and Zenovia nervously, but any argument he may have had is quickly tamped down as he swallows and pretends to busy himself looking for something in his bag. He hardly looks at Zenovia as he smiles weakly and climbs into the back as she seems to insist on seeing him settle in.

My stomach sinks at the silent display of codependency as I make my way around to the driver side. Separating these two isn't going to be as easy as I had hoped.

"Oh?" I remark softly, glancing toward the woman over my shoulder before looking to Ansiel. "Years?" I add with a slight scoff, shaking my head in disbelief. "It's only been about seven months since I was here last, I couldn't imagine being gone for years."

"It feels like a completely different place since the last time I was here," I admit with a nod, taking care to put little grains of truth into everything I say so she can't quite put a finger on what is and isn't true.

Looking at him out of the corner of my eye, I only nod before turning my attention back to the road. I can't place it, but something is peculiar about him and it sits heavily in my chest. There's not a sound coming from the two in the back, and it doesn't take long for the silence to take on an intimidating aura.

"Yes..?" I respond quietly, at first neglecting to look up from the length of fabric I'd been absently knotting before I pick my head up to look at him. I can't help the small sting of guilt as his eyes widen at the way my head turns a little extra so I can see him.